Gauging of articles for diameter



Aug. 19, 1952 T. AJAGEN GAUGING 0F ARTICLES FOR. DIAMETER Filed March 11, 1947 BY H/s ATTORNEK Aug. 19, 1952 T. A. JAGEN GAUGING OF ARTICLES FOR DIAMETER 2 SHEETS--SHEET 2 Filed March 11, 1947 INVENTOE REFZAT CYCLf TIMER H/s ATTQRNEK- l atent ecl Aug. l; 1 95 2- GAUGING 01? ARTICLES: Eon DIAMETER Theodore A. Jagen, Harrison, N. J., assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a

corporation of Delaware Application March 11, 1947, Serial No. 733,879

. 14 Claims.

This invention relates to the gauging of articles for diameter and is herein shown as embodied in;a machine for gauging cylindrical rollers and separating those of acceptable size from .the others. The chief object is to provide an improved gauging and segregating machine which will gauge rollers with great speed and reliability. To this end and also to improve generally upon machines of this character, the invention consists in the various matters hereinafter described and claimed. In its broader aspects the invention is not necessarily limited to the specific construction selected for illustration in the accompanying drawings in which I I Fig. 1 is: a plan view, the gauging head being broken away.

Fig. 2 is an end View, the selector arm and its actuating means being removed.

. Fig. 3 is a side view, a solenoid being removed. I

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 with some elements added. 1

Fig. 10. is a perspective view of some of the elements of Fig. 7 as seen from the opposite side. Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the selector as seen from below.

Fig. 12 is a diagram. First outlining briefly the general operation, the articles to be gaugedfor diameter and accepted or rejected are herein shown as cylindrical rollers with slightly rounded ends. They are urged endwise in a stream toward a tiltable selector having article receiving grooves on opposite sides of a central rib, the rib first acting as a stop while the endmost roller is under a movable gauge stem and held down by a shoe while confined at the bottom and sides by hardened guides. Depending on the diameter, the selector swings to one side or the other by action of a solenoid and the gauged roller moves endwise into one ofthe grooves and, when the selector swings back tocentral position, the roller is dropped down on one side or the other of a narrow blade or separator located immediately below 2 the center line of the selector. Acceptable rollers drop on one side of the blade and rollers that are too large or too small drop on the other side.

The rollers R are urged endwise in a stream under considerable pressure by any suitable feeder leading to a feed tube 2 secured by a clamp. ing screw 4 to a clamping member 6 whose hub. is secured by a screw to a raised block 8 at one end of a base Hi. The endmost .rollerand a fol lowing one slide out of the tube onto a hardened. insert in the center of a plate l2 set in a groove M in the raised block. This block is also grooved lengthwise to receive tongues .on a pair. of side guides 26 which are slotted for adjustable clamp-, ing by screws [8. The side guides also have hardened inserts at their adjacent ends to guide the roller laterally. The endmost rolleris first stopped'by the end of a central ,rib- 2fl'on the bottom of a'grooved selector 22 havingiafroller receiving groove 24 on each side of .the rim; When a roller enters one of the, grooves it is stoppedby a plate 25 fastened to .the'selectonj I The selector22 is fastened to the bottomoia tiltable selector arm 26 of little mass and'having Vertical stiffening'webs and a vertical hub 'portion 28 which is journalled on balls Fig. 3 'engaging conical recesses in the hub portion and'in upper and lower adjusting screws 32, the upper," screw being adjustable vertically in an angle bracket 34 secured to-a slide 36. The slideis adjustably secured to the base by screws 38"pa'ss ing through slots. Endwise location of the slide is determined by adjustablev stop screws 40 threaded in theraised block 8. As indicated in Figs. 2 and'4, the bottom of the slide has a pair of locating keys 42 entering a slot in the basel The arm 26 is pivotally connected to the plungers 44 of two solenoids 46 and 48 suitably mounted on the slide. To urge the selector arm to a central position and dampen vibration, a spring pressed headed plunger 50 is mounted on each side of it to slide in'an angle bracket ,52 adjustably secured to the slide. As indicated in Fig. 8; the head of each plunger is engaged by a-coil spring 54 backed up by an adjusting screw 56. The head of each plunger-slides in a hole in the angle bracket and when it is stopped by the end wallof the hole, the other end of the plunger is" very slightly spaced from the selector arm as indicated in Fig. 1. 1

As indicated best in Figs. 2 and 8, the foremost roller in gauging position. and a following roller are held down on the supporting: plate. l2

by a shoe 58 secured by screws to the endof a.

spring pressed lever 6|] pivotedat 62 in an open-; ingof a standard 54, the rear arm of the lever being connected to a tension spring 66 whose tension is adjustable by a screw 61. The lever is slotted to allow access to screw I8. Immediately ahead of the hold-down shoe the foremost roller is engaged by a gauging plunger 68 projecting downwardly from a gauging head In mountedona vertical slide 12 whichis adjustable vertically on the standard 64 by a screw 14. The diagram hereinafter described indicates how segregation is controlled by the gauge.

Referring to Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 10, the base ID has two openings 16 on each side of acentral partition or reinforcing web 18 which is bevelled at the top and joins a cross web below the block 8. Immediately above the partition is a thin blade or separator 80 having two rounded securing lugs, an upper lug 82 being fastened in a recess in the block 8 and a lower lug 84 being fastened in a recess in the base. This blade or separator lies immediately under the center line or the se ector'zz with its upper edge on a level with plate l2 and extending close up to the rear of the guide plate l2 to support the rollers when they advance into the selector. The forward end of the selector (Figs. 1 and 11) is arcuate with the center of curvature at the pivotal axis of the selector arm. The two grooves 24 in theselector are at a small angle to one another so that they will line up with the stream of rollers whenever the selector is swung to one side. The angular movement is small'a'nd each groove 23 isljust long enough to receive a roller. When'a rd er enters the groove, the following rollers in the stream are first held back by the entered roller and then by the central rib 20 as the selector swings back to central position.

Referring to thediagram, the gauging head it isconnected by lines 8| to an electronic arnplifier 82, these units being commercially available, the unit 82"containing a switch 83 whichfcan be set to closeonly when "a gauged article under the gauge plunger is 'either oversize or undersizefand to 'openfo'nly if the article is acceptable. Lines 8 and 85 supply power toenergize several cirpe cle' timer 86, line 81S being common to the fast We members and als o torelays A, Band C, and o the two'solenoids "46 "and 4'8. The timer'is mercim unit having a switch 81 thati'ra 'c' fieatedly "closes and o ens with great rapidity (say '30!) times a minute) both "on" and off periods eing adjustable and the same: the two periods'determining the cycle offgaugi'r'ig' and diser aig'ii'ig "on m ne. The opt mum "repetition fa e is governed by the speed with which the arti' es ca be fed many in a stream to the gaugefandtrans'ferred'to the selector and'ej'ected. v withanaeceptabie roller under the gauge head spindle "and the roller selector in its centrarposithan with the stream bf ffollrjs halted by the central rib '20, the switch 83 of the amplifier is in openposition aspre'viou'sly set by a master and, assuming the rapidly operated switch B'Ipof the timer is then open for an instant but aboutjso close, none of the relay or the solenoids will be energized because line 85 is disconnected from them. A very small fraction of a second 'laterthe timer switch 81 closes so that current flows through a line 88, across a switch 89 'to-a line 90, across a switch-9| to a'line 92 and then branching tosol'e'noid 4'6 and to relay C and back through theeoinmon'line '84. VVhensolenoid'Mi is thus energized it moves the selector to 'line up the lefthand groove with 'the'stream of rollers and when reiayc is thus energized, its switch 94 irpen's oui s including the amplifier unit 82 and a re- I gauge head spindle to theselector.

so that the gauging circuit is rendered ineffective for an instant while the transfer part of the cycle occurs during which the gauged roller advances (by axial pressure on the stream) into the left hand groove of the selector while another following roller advances under the gauge head spindle 68. Solenoid 46 and relay C are immediately'de-energized by the opening of the rapidly operating timing switch 81. If the following rollers are acceptable, switch 83 will remain open and the solenoid 46 will be energized every time the timing switch closes. All such acceptable rollers will drop down at the left of the blade on'the return of the selector to central position.

If the roller following the acceptable roller is not acceptable, it will cause the amplifier switch 83 to close as the latter is set to do but ineffective- 1y because of the opening of the switch 94 when relay C is energized during the action of solenoid 46 in selecting the preceding acceptable roller. Hence the gauging circuit is rendered ineifecti've for an instant and cannot be affected by this following unacceptable roller during the short time the gauged and acceptable roller is advanc ing into the selector and being ejected, the 5.1 ction occurring when the solenoid 4B is de-eiier gized to allow the selector to return to central position.

Assuming an unacceptable roller, oversize tr undersize, ingauging position 'underthe gauge head spindle '58, the amplifierswitch 83 will close as it is set to do for such a roller. Assuming the timing switch '81 is open but about to close, the relay C cannot be energized'and so its switch :94 will be closed and cause energizing of the relay-A. Hence the relay switch 89 will be pulled'do'wh to connect line 88 to a line 95 leading to sol 48 and branching to relay B. when rap operating timing switch S'l closes, scissor-magma relay B are energized, the solenoid swinging "the selector to the left to receive the unacceptable roller in the right hand groove 'after'which the return of the selector to central position drops the unacceptable roller to the right'of the blade. E-nergizing of relay B opens the switch 9| and closes a switch 98 "to make a direct cdimection from line 88 to line 95 so that even if relay A be "de-enei' gized (as by a following acceptable roller s ew ing the amplifier switch 83) there will be estab li'shed "a holding circuit "for solenoid 48 "and relay B for the very short period that the unacceptable gauged roller is being transferred rrorn'undertne The transfer portion of the cycle always-ta curs when the timing switch 81 is closed "because that is the only time either of the solenoids-can be energized to swing the "selector'ftb receive a roller in one of its pockets. Viewing thediagram, when the right hand solenoideli is energized, an acceptable 'roller "is received in the left hand groove and ultimately dropped on the left side of the center and when the left hand solenoid is energized, an unacceptable "roll'er is-receivea 'in the right hand groove andultimatelydropped on the rig ht side of the center. The machin' is readily adapted to gauge rollers of difiereift s1 "s, the side guides being 'spre'adap'a'rt for larger rollers and the selector being replaceable another having grooves of proper length, width and depth.

-I claim: V

1. In apparatus of the character indicated. means providing a gauging -station from which rollers are successivelypushed endwise, age-uging-member'to engage each -roller;-at :thel'gauging station, a selector. having a. roller; receiving pocket, a rib at one side of the pocketandplo- ,cated in the path of the roller duringgaugingto locate the pocket normally out of line with the gauging station, a shiftable arm controlled by the gauging member when the roller is of a predetermined size, said arm shifting the rib from the path of the rollers to bring the pocket in line with the .gauging station'for receiving a roller endwise, and mechanism returning the rib to its original position aftereach gauging operation and causing the gauged roller to be carried out of line with the gauging station and discharged.

2. In apparatus of the character indicated, means providing a gauging station from. which rollers are successively pushed en-dwise,a gauging member to engage each roller, a selector having a rib normally in line with the gauging Station, gauging member for controlled mechanism shifting the selector and its rib to one side of said gauging station for acceptable rollers and to the other side for unacceptable ones, the selector having a roller receiving. recess on each side of the rib to receive the roller, and the rib pushing the roller laterally to a discharge position when the selector returns to central position,

3. In apparatus of. the character indicated, means providing a gauging station through which the rollers are urged endwise in a stream, agauging member engaging the endmost roller, a selector having a central stop rib to stop the roller for gauging, means controlled by the gauging member for shifting the selector and its stop rib to one side for acceptable rollers and to the other side for unacceptable ones, the selector having a roller receiving pocket on each si'de of the stop rib to receive the roller when the stop rib is shifted to one side, and means at the end of each pocket for arresting the entered roller with its trailing end substantially flush with the end of stop rib, and means for returning the selector to normal position to discharge the roller.

4. In apparatus of the character indicated, means providing a gauging stationthrough which rollers are urged in a stream, a gauging member engaging the endmost roller, a selector having a central stop rib to stop the roller for gauging, means controlled by the gauging member for shifting the selector and its stop rib to one side for acceptable rollers and to the other side for unacceptable ones, the selector having a roller receiving pocket on each side of the stop rib to receive the roller and carry it laterally out of the stream when the selector returns to central position, and means on each side of the selector for urging it to a central position.

5. In apparatus of the character indicated, mean providing a gauging station from which rollers are successively pushed endwise, a gauging member to engage each roller, a selector having a central rib in line with the pathof advance of the rollers, a separator blade below the rib to support the roller when it advances from the gauging station, means controlled by the gauging member for shifting the selector and its central rib to one side for acceptable rollers and to the other side for unacceptable ones, and the selector havhaving a central rib in line with .the gaugingre.

cess to stop the roller, a separatorblade" below. the rib to support thegauged roller, when the rib is shifted laterally out of line with the-gauging recess, means controlled by the gauging-member for shifting the selector and its stop. ribtoone side for acceptable rollers and to the: other side for unacceptable ones, and the selector having a pocket on each side of the stop-rib to:receive and stop a gaugedroller when advanced onto the blade. P 1

7. In apparatus of the character indicated, means providing a gauging station from which rollers are uccessively pushed endwise, a gauging member to engage each roller,-aseparatorblade in line with the stream of rollers to support a gauged roller when advanced beyond gauging position, a selector mounted above the'blad'e and having a central rib normally inline with the gauging station, the selector also having a pair of downwardly open grooves to receive rollersse' lectively in accordance with the size, and means for oscillating the selector and its central rib to advance a roller into aselected groove and'push it laterally off the blade.

8. In apparatus of the character indic'ated, means providinga gauging'station' through which rollers are urged in a stream, a gauging member engaging the endmost roller, a separator blade in line with the stream of rollers, to support agaugecl roller when advanced beyond gauging position, a selector mounted above the blade and having a central stop rib to arrest each roller iii-gauging position, the selector alsohaving a pair of downwardly open grooves to receive rollersselectively in accordance with the size,'a pair of solenoids having connection with opposite sides of the se lector, means controlled by the gauging member for. determining which solenoid will be energized to shift the selector laterally and advance a gauged roller into the selected groove, and means for returning the selector to central position 'to discharge the roller to the selected side of the blade. 1 1 9. In apparatus of the character indicated; means providing a gauging station from which rollers are successively pushed endwise, a gauging member to engage each roller, a separator blade in line with the stream of rollers, a selector mounted above the blade and having a pair of roller receiving pockets on opposite sides of the ing a roller receiving pocket on each side of the central ribfor shifting the roller laterally ofi the blade when the selector returns to central position.

6. In apparatus of the character indicated, means providing a gauging station through which rollers are urged in a stream, a gauging member engaging the endmost roller, a selector center, a pair of solenoids connected to opposite sides of the selector, means controlled by the gauging member for energizing a selected solenoid to shift the selector to one side when the roller is of acceptable size and to shift the selector to the other side when the roller is of unacceptable size, and means for urging the selector to central position to push the roller laterally oil the blade to the selected side thereof. I

10. In apparatus of the character indicated, a gauge having a work engaging member to control an electronic amplifier, a selector to receive work pieces successively from the gauge, a laterally movable rib on the selector and stopping the entrance of a work piece into the selector during each gauging operation, a pair of solenoids connected to the selector to shift the rib to a selected side of the gauge for segregating the work pieces into two classes, a repeat cycle timer having a switch which rapidly closes and opens one of a pair of preselected solenoid circuits, and the electronic amplifier having a, switch controlled by the size of the work pieces to determine which of the 's'oieiiold circuits will be rzoompleted by the action.

ablezribnormally stepping the advance of Y a' work piece into the selector during a gauging operation, a. mail iof solenoids to -:actuate the rib, a :repeat cycle :timer *wired' .to zthersolenoids and having a switch rapidly-opening and closing a preselected circuit ;to one -of the solenoids when the gauged workxis Of a:size acceptable for one class,'and a relay renergized :bythe-action-of the amplifier 'for switchingtherepeat cycle timer into circuit with the other solenoidto rapidlyopen-and closethe circuit to said other-solenoid when the-gauged work is 50f a different :size for theother class.

:12. In apparatus of the character indicated, .a

gauge having. a, work engaging member, an electronic amplifier-having,a=switchcontrolled by the work engaging member toopen or close dependingson' worksizaaselector to receive work pieces from :thegauge, said selector having a laterally movable rib normally stopping movement of "a work ,piece into the selector "during a gauging operation, a pair 5 of solenoids connected to the selector .to laterally :shiftthe rib-to selected-sides of the gauging member to segregate the work pieces into acceptableand unacceptable sizes, a repeat cycle timer having a rapidly opening and cl'osing .switch in the solenoid circuits to energize the-solenoids selectively, arelay switch controlled by the i-amplifier switch to determine which sole noi'd :circuit will be rapidly energized and deenergized by the action of the repeat cycle timer switch, and means -for rendering the gauge temporarily -.inefiectiveafter either solenoid is energized.

:13. In apparatus .-,of the-character indicated, .a gauging head and an electronic amplifier therefor, :a work eengaging member to .control the amplifier, aaselector providediwithra rib between a pair ofvpockets arrangedzto receive workpieces from the :gauge; said xrib being ::normally :in line withca' work piece zbeing gauged :to stop 'work piece "advance, mechanism for shifting therrib in. two direction selectively to :segregate the work into two classes, a' repeat cycle timer .having a rapidly-opening and closing switch to time the shifting of the lib after each gauging operation, and the zamplifierhavingia switchresponsive to the .work size :for determining the direction .of

shiftin'g'otthe rib. Y

14. :In' an apparatus :of: the .characteriindicated, a agaug'in'g station .'from which :roller :are. succes'sively afed end-wise, a gauging 'memberw'engageable. with each roller :at the gauging :station, :a laterally movable-selector having .a rib .cbetween -:a pair of spacedroller-receiving :pockets, the rib being :normally in i line with 'a roller 1 at the gauging station to stop the advance of said roller, gauging zmem-bei' controlled mechanism laterally shifting the selector and rib ina selected direction after each gauging operation, said direction of rib movement depending on thesize of the gauged roller to bring theselected pocket in line with the gauging station :for receiving a .roller endwise, andmechanism returning the rib to :its

normal in line position :priortothe next gauging operation and causing the gauged :roller to be dropped *from the bottom of the selectedpocket.

THEODORE A. JAGEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in "the file of this patent:

PATENTS 

